FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 16, 2014
Contact: Matthew P. Snow, Esq.
7 East Market, Suite 102
Leesburg, Virginia 20176
(703) 779-2000
Loudoun Chapter of Beat the Odds® to Present 2014 Awards
Tenth Annual Award Ceremony to Distribute Largest Amount of Scholarships
in the History of the Organization
Leesburg, Virginia - The Loudoun County Chapter of Beat the Odds® will host its tenth annual scholarship awards ceremony at the Old Courthouse in historic Leesburg on Thursday, May 22, 2014. The ceremony will see $18,000 in scholarships awarded to Loudoun County students, the largest single year amount of awards in the history of the organization. Over the ten years that Loudoun Beat the Odds® has been assisting students, more than $100,000 has been awarded.
The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. and feature keynote speaker, The Honorable Thomas D. Horne, retired Circuit Court Judge. A brief reception with light refreshments will take place in the Community Room of the Courthouse immediately following the event. This event is open to the public and members of the media are encouraged to attend and assist in recognizing these students.
This year, the award ceremony and reception will once again be sponsored by Jersey Mike’s Subs. Jersey Mike’s continues to be significant supporter of the Loudoun Chapter of Beat the Odds® and has been active in supporting other local charities and community organizations.
The Beat the Odds® Scholarship Award winner for 2014 is Kayla Ann Walters, a senior at Tuscarora High School. Kayla plans to enter the nursing program at George Mason University in the fall.
Four Merit Award Winners will also receive scholarships. They are: Ashlyn Rock and Yelda Sahin from Dominion High School, Juan Rivera from Park View High School and Jessica Tierney from Woodgrove High School. All are graduating Seniors.
Beat the Odds® is a nationally recognized project that rewards at-risk youth who show the ability to overcome significant life obstacles by rising above such issues as poverty, physical abuse, serious medical illness, family breakup or substance abuse. Each of the above students has a unique and compelling story which was deemed to merit recognition by the Scholarship Committee.
Loudoun County’s chapter was initiated by several members of the Loudoun County Bar Association and is assisted by the Loudoun Bar Foundation, a charitable organization established by local attorneys. The Bar Association created the Beat the Odds® Committee to identify students who demonstrate achievement in spite of life’s challenges.
The Beat the Odds® Committee is comprised of individuals from several participating agencies as well as private volunteers and donors to include: the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, the Leesburg Police Department, the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney, the Office of the Public Defender, the Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse & Developmental Services (MH/SA/DS), the Juvenile Court Services Unit and the Department of Family Services.
Media wishing to obtain additional information about events or any business or member of the public wishing to support this cause may contact Matthew Snow at the address or telephone number listed above. Information can also be found at www.btoloudoun.org.
####